Prevalence of Balance Impairment in University Students With Smartphone Associated Subclinical Neck Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Background: Prolonged smartphone use among university students may coexist with cervical symptoms and altered postural control. Objective: To determine the prevalence and distribution of balance impairment among university students with smartphone-associated subclinical neck pain and examine associations of balance status with neck pain and smartphone addiction. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 87 university students aged 18–25 years recruited by convenience sampling at Indus University, Karachi, Pakistan. Static balance was assessed using the Balance Error Scoring System, neck-related disability using the Neck Disability Index, pain intensity using a visual analogue scale, and smartphone-related behaviour using a smartphone addiction questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for analysis. Results: Moderate balance impairment was the predominant BESS category, affecting 63 participants (72.4%), while 15 (17.2%) had mild impairment, one (1.1%) had severe impairment, and eight (9.2%) had normal balance. Moderate neck disability was present in 58 participants (66.7%), moderate pain in 38 (43.7%), and moderate-risk smartphone addiction in 61 (70.1%). Balance status was associated with sex (p=0.009), age group (p=0.028), smartphone addiction level (p=0.021), and neck-pain severity (p=0.001). Conclusion: Balance abnormalities frequently coexisted with neck-related symptoms and problematic smartphone-use behaviour in this university sample
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